Which Pokémon games were the first main-series titles released outside Japan?

Pokémon Red and Blue were the first main-series Pokémon games released outside Japan.

They were based on the Japanese Pokémon Red, Green, and Blue releases, but the international versions used Red and Blue as the paired titles. The original Japanese Green version was not released outside Japan, making the international naming pattern different from the Japanese launch lineup.

The games reached North America in 1998 and later other regions. They preserved the first generation’s Kanto setting, 151-species Pokédex, Gym challenge, rival battles, and link-cable trading. The two-version structure encouraged players to exchange Pokémon because each version contained creatures unavailable in the other.

Pokémon Yellow followed internationally as an enhanced edition influenced by the anime, with Pikachu accompanying the player. It was not the first overseas release, however. Pokémon Gold and Silver came later as second-generation games. The distinction between Red and Green in Japan and Red and Blue abroad is one of the most common historical details surrounding Pokémon’s first generation.